LOXLEY, Ala. — The Town of Loxley will soon have two new pieces of fire apparatus. At the Town Council meeting Monday night, councilors approved Ferrara Fire Apparatus’ bid for a 2,500 gallon tanker and a 1,000 gallon pumper. The Holden, La., company was the low bidder, asking a total of $625,299 for both trucks. The Council also approved a lease-purchase agreement with Sovereign Bank for the new fire apparatus. All members of the Council were present for the meeting.

“My goodness, they approved it,” said a clearly delighted Fire Chief Tim Curry. He added that the new trucks would be useful with the new land the town was considering annexing.

“There aren’t any fire hydrants out there,” said Curry. “We will need a way to get water there.”

“They knew we had a quality product,” said Robin Hurst, a representative of Ferrara Fire Apparatus. He added that members of the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department toured the plant to see how their new trucks would be built.

“We met all the specs and gave the best price,” said Hurst, a former fire chief in Baton Rouge, La., as he handed out Ferrara caps to the crowd.

Last month, Curry later told the Council the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department received 34 calls for help.

“We appreciate, and are thankful for your help,” said Curry

The Town Council also voted to hold a public hearing on the annexation of the 5,600-acre plus “Roans Creek” development. Plans call for the parcel, bordering Highway 59, to be developed with a combination of residential, business, light industrial and commercial uses.

“We have to have a public hearing on the matter,” said Mayor Billy Middleton. The meeting will be held at the next regular Council meeting, Sept. 8.

The Council also approved resolutions confirming the mayor and current council members in office for another term. As previously reported, all the Town Council members with the exception of the incumbent Lloyd Keuler in Council Place 2 qualified for election and do not have challengers.

According to Town Clerk Carol Middleton, Keuler did not requalify for election, but newcomer Jeffrey T. Knight qualified without a challenger for Council Place 2.

“I guess I should make a statement that there was only one person running for each position, therefore we don’t have to have an election,” said Mayor Billy Midleton

Councilors also heard from Parks Superintendent Glenn Hedden about an attempted break-in at Municipal Park last week. Hedden said that while it’s not sure if the thieves got what they wanted, a door was damaged. The door has been repaired, and the security system for the area modified.

In other matters,

— The Council approved the payment of bills in the total of $41,353.41

— Passed annexation of the Vicki Lassiter property on Baldwin County Road 49

— Passed annexation of the Emily Canaan properties near Interstate 10.

— Voted uniamously to close the Community Development Block Grant project, number DR-05-025 which was designed to improve drainage near Holley Street.